Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-08-13
Miscellaneous.
The Seasons Prospects.

The season is now so far advanced IN
this State that farmers may safely make
calculations upon the harvest aggregates.
The hay crop is bounteous one in every
part Of the State. AS cattle are the basis
OF our husbandry, so that which maintains
cattle must be the SUB basis, the solid
foundation way down out of sight, upon
which our fair structure of agricultural
prosperity independence and happy homes
permanently rests. The farmer never
enters upon a cold winter in better heart
han when he has amply filed barns, con-
tanning an abundant Store of good hay.
The wintcring of all the farm stock means
prosperity in the future. and with good
hay crop, as we have this year harvested,
the farmer need not sacrifice his stock be-
cause he has insufficient means to winter
them.
II has been a favorable year for all the
cereais. corn and all the grain crops.
pear 10 do better, give larger yield than
a. other times. 1t is a frequent remark
among farmers at is good corn year -
or, lit is good apple yeHr"-while on
the contrary, remarks which rank certain
years as ''poor years" for particular crops
are as frequently heard. All observation
and experience prove that some years are
"poor" and others "good" for this or that
crop. The present is everywhere pro-
nounced by all farmers a favorable year
for grain of all kinds and for corn. Wheat
was not sown last spring to the extent it
was some years since, but it is in
variably looking we'll, with strong
straw and promising good harvest
as is shown by the heavily
bending heads. Oats, barley, rye and
buckwheat were never known to be better
and large areas were sown. All over
Maine corn is magnificent crop, and in.
dicaies very large and perfect yield. In
deed the season at present is so favorable
and so far advanced. that it is safe to pre-
Diet one of the best "corn years" Maine
has ever seen. Especially is this true of
sweet corn-a crop grown in large guam
title, in this State, and one of the best
money crops which our farmers handle.
i ne season has been exceedingly favora.
bic Tor this crop and it is now forward in
maturity. rank, green and growing. Tne
severe droughts throughout the corn grow
ing districts of the West, where sweet corn
is grown for canning, have been so long
continued and destructive that growers can
not possibly deliver their contracts. So that
precedaned demand this year. So far as
we can learn, however, every can of
Maine corn is already sold, and sold at a
good figure.
Ii is true that amid these favorable pros.
poets for crops, the apple yield will be
very light. But farmers must not forget
that Maine has harvested good. yes, a
heavy crop of apples for three years past,
and that it is not in the nature of things
to expect large yield this year. Trees
must rest some. But this very autumn
will be good opportunity to mulch and
manure the trees for another seasons
yield. This too, must be remembered
save the fall apples and make the most OF
them. Evapora,e or dry them, and thus
make them help in the comfort and econ
omy of living.
Possibly it Is too early to base calcula
tons upon the yield of the potato crop.
The early planted fields suffered much
from the drought of June, and the first
half of July; but since then rains have
been very favorable for the later ones. and
generally the present prospects indicate an
average yield.
Altogether the work CT the farmer this
year, in this grand old State of Maine,
seems to promise q splendid return iu
abundant harvests of nearly every crop.
Our farm animals generally are in fine
condition and prosperity and comfort ex-
lists throughout our borders. Happy
| farmers